Family reunification

There are several costs associated with family reunification in Denmark. In addition to the application fee, there may be expenses related to document translations, biometric registration, and potential financial security requirements. If you apply for family reunification under EU rules, there is generally no application fee. Family reunification under the national Danish immigration rules currently costs approximately DKK 9,000 in government application fees.

Many applicants also choose to seek advice from a family reunification lawyer or an immigration lawyer to strengthen their application and reduce the risk of rejection. A family reunification lawyer, an immigration lawyer in Denmark, or an immigration lawyer in Copenhagen will typically charge legal fees in a similar range depending on the complexity of the case. Usually this fee varies from anywhere between 15.000-20.000 DKK.

Processing times vary depending on the type of family reunification application. Family reunification under EU rules typically takes around 1–3 months, while standard family reunification under Danish national rules usually takes approximately 8 months. If the authorities request additional documentation, the processing time may be extended.

In complex cases, it can be beneficial to contact an immigration lawyer in Denmark or an immigration lawyer in Copenhagen, or a family reunification lawyer, or a family reunification lawyer in Denmark to ensure that the application is correctly prepared from the outset and to follow up with the authorities in order to reduce processing time delays. A family reunification specialist in Denmark can also assist you.

If you receive a refusal of family reunification in Denmark, you may in many cases either request a reopening of the case with the immigration authorities or appeal the decision to the Immigration Appeals Board (Udlændingenævnet). This depends on the specific reasoning behind the refusal and the circumstances of the case.

It can therefore be a good idea to seek assistance from a family reunification lawyer, an immigration lawyer, or an immigration lawyer in Denmark or an immigration lawyer in Copenhagen, so your case is assessed correctly and all relevant information is properly presented, thereby increasing your chances of turning a refusal into a residence permit. A lawyer in family reunification in Denmark might also help you.

The most common reasons for rejection of family reunification in Denmark are insufficient documentation, failure to meet financial requirements, or not fulfilling housing and integration requirements. Applications may also be refused if the authorities assess that the relationship is not sufficiently documented or if they believe the marriage or relationship is a so-called “pro forma” arrangement.

In practice, many refusals are linked to failure to meet the integration requirement, and in many cases also to suspicions of pro forma relationships. The Danish authorities conduct a thorough and strict assessment of all submitted documentation, and even minor deficiencies can lead to a refusal.

For this reason, many applicants choose to seek assistance from a family reunification lawyer, an immigration lawyer, an immigration lawyer in Denmark, an immigration lawyer in Copenhagen, or a specialist in family reunification cases to avoid errors in the application process. A lawyer in family reunification matters can also assist in responding to or overcoming a pro forma assessment by strengthening the evidence of a genuine relationship and ensuring that all requirements are properly documented.

The requirements for family reunification in Denmark depend on whether you apply under Danish national rules or EU free movement rules, and there is a significant difference in both the requirements and the practical assessment.

Under the Danish national rules, the requirements are generally stricter. Applicants are typically subject to conditions such as the 24-year rule, housing requirements, financial self-sufficiency, and a financial security deposit, as well as integration requirements. These cases are often more complex because previous residence history and integration factors may also be included in the assessment. At the same time, the Danish Immigration Service carries out a very thorough review of whether the marriage or relationship is genuine. For this reason, many applicants seek assistance from an immigration lawyer in Denmark, an immigration lawyer in Copenhagen, or a family reunification lawyer, as professional help with family reunification can be crucial in avoiding errors and refusals. A family reunification lawyer can also assess whether exemptions from certain requirements may be possible.

Under EU rules, the requirements are generally more flexible, as there are no equally strict conditions regarding housing, income, or integration. In these cases, it is typically required that the EU citizen has exercised their right to free movement in another EU country and that the relationship is properly documented as genuine. Even in EU cases, however, SIRI conducts a thorough assessment of the authenticity of the relationship, although the evaluation is generally more lenient compared to the national rules.

Overall, the national rules are more demanding, while the EU rules are more flexible. In both cases, however, strong documentation of a genuine relationship is essential. For this reason, many applicants choose professional assistance with family reunification from a lawyer specializing in immigration law or a lawyer in family reunification cases, who can review all requirements and strengthen the application process. An immigration lawyer in Denmark, or an immigration lawyer in Copenhagen, or a family reunification lawyer, or a lawyer in family reunification in Denmark, could also help you.